Five-time winner of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Lee Mills is internationally recognized as a passionate, multifaceted and energetic conductor. In naming Mills as the “New Artist of the Month” for March 2022, Musical America praised Mills’ “omnivorous musical temperament eager to try out highly contrasting musical styles and approaches.” 

During the pandemic, Mills was an invaluable asset to the Seattle Symphony, giving dozens of performances, including the 2020 Season Opening Gala on Seattle Symphony Live and recording multiple albums with the orchestra. Mills also was the “hero of the hour” (Seattle Times) when he stepped in at the last minute to replace Thomas Dausgaard for a performance including the world premiere of Hanna Lash’s double-harp concerto The Peril of Dreams and Amy Beach’s epic Gaelic Symphony in November 2021, about which Thomas May wrote in Musical America, “Mills emerged in his element here, showing an obvious fondness for this epic, unjustifiably neglected score. Along with a compelling dramatic arc, he elicited characterful playing for the many solos that enrich it.” 

In the fall of 2022, Mills was the Solti Foundation U.S. Resident at Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he worked with maestro Enrique Mazzola on the Lyric's production of Verdi's Don Carlos. The League of American Orchestras selected Mills for the 2018 Bruno Walter National Conductors Preview where he conducted the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and in 2017 Mills was selected as a semi-finalist in both the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition and the Opera Royal de Wallonie-Liege International Opera Conducting Competition. In addition, he conducted alongside David Robertson in the highly acclaimed U.S. Premiere of John Cage’s Thirty Pieces for Five Orchestras with the Saint Louis Symphony. In 2014, Mills was the Assistant Conductor to David Robertson for Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA. 

In addition to his prior work as Resident Conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, he has led concerts with leading international orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra (USA), Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. 

Through his project Vibe Sinfônica, initiated in 2018 in partnership with nightlife producer The Week Group in São Paulo, he has brought classical music to thousands of new listeners through performances in unusual settings. In their inaugural performance, Vibe Sinfônica performed music of Vivaldi at The Week Group’s 14th anniversary in São Paulo, playing to a crowd of over 10,000 EDM fans and opening for DJ Offer Nissim. This project was also featured in a video clip of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, created to commemorate the 15th anniversary of The Week. 

At the invitation of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marin Alsop, he received the prestigious BSO-Peabody Institute Conducting Fellowship in 2011. Under the tutelage of Gustav Meier and Marin Alsop, Mills received his Graduate Performance Diploma and Artist’s Diploma in Orchestral Conducting at the Peabody Institute. He was a conducting fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen during the summers of 2012 and 2013, working closely with Larry Rachleff, Robert Spano and Hugh Wolff. Mills graduated cum laude from Whitman College, where he studied with Robert Bode. You can find him on social media under the handle @maestroleemills. 

MICHAEL MALIAKEL (pronounced “Molly-uh-kell”) recently completed a historic three-year run as the title role in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway, leading the show through it’s 10th anniversary celebration. A trail-blazing Indian-American performer, Michael was the guest artist in “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir,” PBS’s widely popular annual television special. He was also featured on two other recent PBS concert specials: “Broadway’s Brightest Lights,” alongside Broadway luminary Megan Hilty, and “An Evening with Lerner and Loewe.” This summer, Michael appeared in Titanic at NY City Center's Encores and debuted at the MUNY in St. Louis as Prince Eric in Disney's The Little Mermaid. He made his Kennedy Center debut in the critically acclaimed production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard starring Tony award winner Stephanie J. Block. Prior to the pandemic, Michael toured North America with the 25th Anniversary production of The Phantom of the Opera. Other recent stage highlights include Bernstein’s MASS (Ravinia Festival), Georg in She Loves Me (PlayMakers Repertory Company), and the record-breaking world premiere of Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Michael’s on-screen work includes roles on CBS’ “BULL” and “FBI,” "Before" alongside Billy Crystal (Apple TV+), as well as appearances on "Good Morning America" and "The View."

 A classically trained baritone, Michael's wide-ranging repertoire spans the Golden Age of Broadway, American Songbook standards, and contemporary musical theatre hits. Michael's versatility has been featured with orchestras and ensembles across the country including the National Philharmonic, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, the American Pops Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony, the Tallahassee Symphony, the Savannah Philharmonic, the Albany Symphony, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. He has received top awards from several organizations including the American Traditions Vocal Competition, the Lotte Lenya Competition, and the NATS National Music Theater Competition. 

Lissa deGuzman is a celebrated musical theatre actress known for her powerful vocals, versatility, and dedication to her craft. Originally from the Milwaukee area, she discovered her love for performance in high school, appearing in numerous musicals before earning a BFA in Musical Theater from Belmont University. 

Best known for her portrayal as Elphaba in Wicked, she made history as the first Filipina actress to play the role in the National Tour. She has also served as Elphaba’s standby in the Broadway production. Her additional Broadway credits include King Kong (Ann Darrow) and Aladdin (understudy Jasmine), as well as playing the role of Jasmine in the National Touring company of Aladdin. 

Beyond Broadway, Lissa has appeared in regional and developmental productions in leading roles including Waitress, Legally Blonde, Camelot, Bliss, Cinderella, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Chasing Rainbows, and more. Offstage, she is passionate about arts education and community engagement, and she often gives back through musical outreach programs. 

With a commanding presence and a richly expressive voice, Lissa deGuzman continues to expand her artistic footprint on both Broadway and national tours, inspiring audiences with her authenticity and artistry.

Olivia Donalson made her Broadway debut in Disney’s hit musical Aladdin, a show she performed for over five years both on Broadway and on the US National Tour. Immediately after, Olivia starred in the US National Tour and on Broadway as ‘Anna of Cleves’ in SIX the Musical, for which she also appeared on the James Corden show and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. Originally from Jacksonville Florida, Olivia attended Ithaca College for Musical Theatre and started her professional career with Disney Cruise Line. Most recently, she originated roles in the world premiere of Dolly -the new Dolly Parton Musical - in Nashville. When she’s not on a Broadway stage, you can find Olivia dazzling audiences nationwide with her solo jazz concerts. @oliviadonalson

MICHAEL McCRARY is an International creative based in New York City. He has created over 20 digital videos that have reached millions of views collectively across Instagram and Youtube. He has worked creatively with Todrick Hall (first AD on ICON), "RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16" contestants Plasma and Sapphira Cristal (Bloody Mary, DROMP, ENOUGH, the CRISTAL BALL), and Omar Jose Cardona ("the VOICE Season 22"). As a choreographer he has worked for the CW (Hollywood Christmas Parade), TD Bank, Metropolis Productions, Mary Kay, Hasbro, Toys R US, Macys, Basic Fun! and RWS Global (MSC, Iberostar). Michael started his business Michael McCrary VIBE in 2022. His business creates custom digital content, live events, and stage shows for various artists and brands both nationally and internationally. VIBE also operates a dance education program in Greenville, South Carolina training youth and adult dancers. Michael is a guest faculty member at the world-renowned Broadway Dance Center, NYC. 

For more check out www.michael-mccrary.com

Jude Collins
Joseph Grant 
Brianna Haston
Michael McCrary 
Presley Rimel
Alexandra Simpson
Abbey Sullivan
Katie Stewart

Ashley Addison, Production Manager
Lucas Colmenares and Taylor Keeter, Screen Design 
Costume Curio, Inc., Costume Design
Catrin Davies, Stage Director
Derek Eilert and Meghan Roum, Librarians
Nathan Evinger, Sound Engineer
Tony Penna, Lighting Design

Ashley Addison, Production Manager 
Grace Butler, Donor Relations Coordinator
Lucas Colmenares, Marketing Assistant
Derek Eilert, Personnel Manager and Librarian
Taylor Keeter, Marketing and Communications Manager
Lieshe Lane, Director of Development
Jennifer Mullins, Office Manager and Board Liaison
Meghan Roum, Assistant Orchestra Librarian
Jessica Satava, Executive Director
Anneka Zuehlke-King, Education Manager
Amelia Rogocka, Artistic Operations Project Manager

Lee Mills, Music Director
Edvard Tchivzhel, Music Director Emeritus

Concert Hall Series
Saturday performances at 7:30
Sunday at 3:00 pm

Opening Night: Hollywood Retrospective
October 4 & 5

An American in Paris
November 22 & 23

Dvořák’s Cello Concerto
February 7 & 8

Grand Canyon Suite + Rachmaninoff 2
March 14 & 15

West Side Story Symphonic Dances 
+ Fanfare for the Common Man
April 11 & 12

Season Finale: Porgy and Bess
May 16 & 17

Gunter Theatre Series
Peter and the Wolf
November 1 at 3:00 pm
November 2 at 3:00 pm

Dvořák’s American String Quartet
February 14 at 7:30 pm 
February 15 at 3:00 pm

The Last Five Years:
American Music Now
March 28 at 7:30 pm
March 29 at 3:00 pm

Dicey Langston: 
The South Carolina Girl Who Defied an Army
April 25 at 3:00 pm
April 26 at 3:00 pm

Special Concerts
Holiday at Peace
December 12 at 7:00 pm
December 13 at 7:00 pm
December 14 at 2:00 pm
Peace Center

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert
January 10 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm 
January 11 at 2:00 
Peace Center

Chamber Music Series
American Echoes: from Apollo to Bluegrass
September 23 at 5:30 pm, Warehouse Theatre
September 24 at 7:00 pm, Hotel Hartness

Rhythms of the Night: A Tango Affair
February 24 at 5:30 pm, Centre Stage
February 25 at 7:00 pm, Hotel Hartness

Details and tickets available at greenvillesymphony.org